“Why so?” he answered. “In
Vincent’s place, I should not have hesitated
to do what he has certainly done. And I am an
honest man too. I was in business for twenty
years; and I dare any one to prove that a note signed
Desclavettes ever went to protest. And so, my
dear friends, I beseech you, consent to serve your
old friend, and, when you see your father—­”

The old man’s tone of voice exasperated even
Mme. Favoral herself.

“We never expect to see my husband again,”
she uttered.

He shrugged his shoulders, and, in a tone of paternal
reproach,

“You just give up all such ugly ideas,”
he said. “You will see him again, that
dear Vincent; for he is much too sharp to allow himself
to be caught. Of course, he’ll stay away
as long as it may be necessary; but, as soon as he
can return without danger, he will do so. The
Statute of Limitations has not been invented for the
Grand Turk. Why, the Boulevard is crowded with
people who have all had their little difficulty, and
who have spent five or ten years abroad for their
health. Does any one think any thing of it?
Not in the least; and no one hesitates to shake hands
with them. Besides, those things are so soon
forgotten.”

He kept on as if he never intended to stop; and it
was not without trouble that Maxence and Gilberte
succeeded in sending him off, very much dissatisfied
to see his request so ill received. It was after
twelve o’clock. Maxence was anxious to
return to his own home; but, at the pressing instances
of his mother, he consented to remain, and threw himself,
without undressing, on the bed in his old room.

“What will the morrow bring forth?” he
thought.

XXIII

After a few hours of that leaden sleep which follows
great catastrophes, Mme. Favoral and her children
were awakened on the morning of the next day, which
was Sunday, by the furious clamors of an exasperated
crowd. Each one, from his own room, understood
that the apartment had just been invaded. Loud
blows upon the door were mingled with the noise of
feet, the oaths of men, and the screams of women.
And, above this confused and continuous tumult, such
vociferations as these could be heard:

“I tell you they must be at home!”

“Canailles, swindlers, thieves!”

“We want to go in: we will go in!”

“Let the woman come, then: we want to see
her, to speak to her!”

Occasionally there were moments of silence, during
which the plaintive voice of the servant could be
heard; but almost at once the cries and the threats
commenced again, louder than ever. Maxence, being
ready first, ran to the parlor, where his mother and
sister joined him directly, their eyes swollen by sleep
and by tears. Mme. Favoral was trembling
so much that she could not succeed in fastening her
dress.